Powell's Blog Various thoughts on TNA releasing Jim Mitchell, William Regal's suspension coming to an end, TNA Mobile By Jason Powell Jul 8, 2008 - 03:25 PM Email This Article | Printer Friendly Page Send Us News & Results | Back to Main Listing Tuesday, JULY 8 - 3:25 P.M. -I was surprised to learn that James Mitchell was released fro his TNA contract. He's arguably the best talker in TNA and he managed to get the most out of some embarrassingly awful material involving Abyss and the fatherhood storyline. Furthermore, he was fantastic in his role as the Sinister Minister narrator role back in the original ECW. Like many readers have noted, he would be a great fit with Kane in WWE. Unfortunately, WWE doesn't seem to have any use for managers these days, and Vince McMahon sees his own character as the devil. I'm not saying WWE won't show interest, but it would surprise me. And it's a shame because I think Mitchell could breathe new life into the Kane character, not to mention that his gimmick is tailor made for the comic book world that Raw head writer Brian Gewirtz is so fond of. As much as I enjoy the Devil gimmick that Mitchell has used over the years, I believe it limits him. He's become the manager of freaks and monsters, which generally limits him to mid-card status. I'd love to see someone tweak the gimmick and Mitchell's look by having him dress down a little in a typical suit. He could keep the overall look and essentially play the devil in different clothing. I threw out the idea of having Mitchell tone down his look and return as the manager for LAX before Hector Guerrero debuted with his wannabe Latino Heat persona. I've always felt that Mitchell was simply too good on the mic to be limited to the role of monster manager. I'd really like to see what Mitchell could do if he managed non-monsters and developed a stable similar to those created for old school managers. He's a great talker and I think he would be even better if he were put in a role that didn't require him to spout the hocus pocus gibberish that he was often saddled with. Unfortunately, I think the TNA creative team is too shortsighted to recognize how valuable he could be with a few tweaks of his gimmick. Here's hoping TNA or WWE surprises me. -William Regal is eligible to return from his 60-day suspension around July 20, meaning he could return to Raw as early as the show on July 21. It will be interesting to see whether WWE reinserts him into the general manager role that has essentially been on hold since he lost the loser leaves WWE match to Mr. Kennedy. It could be as simple as the McMahon family or the infamous board of directors issuing a ruling that puts Regal back in place while Vince McMahon is off doing whatever it is his character is supposedly doing. Regal was great in his role as the Raw general manager. He had mega-heat when his career was derailed by his suspension. Here's one vote for Regal getting his old spot back when he returns. -Could someone explain what purpose TNA Mobile serves? Over the last two weeks, the service has informed subscribers that Marvin Harrison was backstage at a recent Impact taping, teased a match or two for Impact, and hyped that TNA was on the verge of announcing its first California tour. Maybe I'm asking for too much, but I expect more from a subscription mobile service. Why didn't they let us know that Mitchell had been released or that Rellik was no longer with the company? Why aren't they trying to get me excited about their pay-per-view, which has so little buzz that I honestly forgot earlier this week that the show takes place on Sunday? TNA is doing some little things right with their house shows and the grassroots vibe that they're trying to create. However, they aren't utilizing their own website as much as they should, and they are suddenly slacking on the mobile content. Tuesday, JULY 8 - 9:21 A.M. Someone check the dosage on Kane's medication. Clearly, The Big Red Monster was bothered by something on Monday night. He took it out on crew members. He wanted to take it out on Lillian Garcia. He tried to take it out on Michael Cole. He even choked out Jerry Lawler. "Is he alive or dead?" Kane asked repeatedly. I thought I heard him mention Vince McMahon's name once, but I could be wrong. Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque have implied that the old man is alive if not well, so I'm not sure whether that makes sense unless Kane is purely delusional at this point. Maybe he was referring to his brother. Undertaker has been banned from WWE, but the Dead Man has been dead for years. This question should have bothered Kane long before now, so I can't imagine he's pitching a fit over that. I suppose it could be Paul Bearer since the last time we saw him on WWE television he was supposedly killed off. The idea that the Fat Man has been in hiding all these years is really hard to believe since he kind of sticks out in a crowd (insert your own Osama bin Laden joke here). After careful deliberation, I have concluded that Kane could only be referring to one person when he asked whether "he" is alive or dead... Tony Soprano. We're two days shy of the 13-month anniversary of the screen fading to black on the popular HBO series "The Sopranos." I must admit that the end of the series drove me a little bonkers. Don't string me along for six seasons and all those long hiatuses, deliver a copout ending that leaves things open for a possible big screen followup (yes, I know David Chase has denied it), and then act like I'm an idiot for not liking the finale. I don't want artistic bullshit. I'm a simpleton. Just give me closure. Wrap it up in a neat little bow and give me definitive ending. Is that too much to ask? Yes, I still have some pent up frustration from the finale even though it's been nearly 13 months since I said goodbye to my favorite television mobsters. I've been able to move on for the most part. Clearly, Kane has not. I guess the only question now is whether he's been stewing over this for 13 months or if he just finished watching the series on DVD. If it's the latter, then I know many fans of "The Sopranos" can relate. I wanted to kick someone in the face, scare a woman, and toss around strangers when I finished watching the finale. Hell, I think I may have even dreamed about kicking Michael Cole's ass, but I have that impulse more frequently than I should admit publicly. The point is that there are people who feel your pain, Kane. Many have found the strength to go on with their lives. Others still go off on online tangents whenever something completely unrelated causes them to have a mental flashback to the finale. I'd like to say it gets better, Kane. However, if you just finished watching the finale on DVD, then you still have to go through the most painful part of it all—receiving countless emails from people on both sides of the "alive or dead" debate who claim that the answer is painfully obvious to them and that anyone who disagrees is an idiot. HELP SUPPORT DOT NET! 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